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We have a rich musical tradition - let’s not make it just a historical one

Let me make it clear from the start – I love music.  I love playing music.  I love listening to music.  It provides the background to so much of my life – the good times and the bad.  In fact “We’ve come a long, long way together, through the bad times and the good!

It was this love of music that inspired my option choices at school – taking music at O and A level.  It was music that was my main study when training as a Primary teacher years ago, and it was as a music teacher that I gained my first job – and others since!

So what is wrong, I hear you ask!  Where do I begin?

For too long, schools have been narrowing down their curriculum.  Whether this is for alleged lack of interest at GCSE and above is open to debate, but if the option does not exist in school then how can children study the subject.  Music, like sport, is a life-enriching study.  Many clubs, band, orchestras etc take place outside curriculum time.  Certainly there is a far greater extra-curricular load on music and sports staff than on many other subjects.  Despite this, music is not regarded as highly as many academic subjects.  No reward is offered for running these clubs be it monetary or even marking time that clubs eat into.

In the Primary sector, due to the overuse of data, schools are so panicked by their SATs scores that they will squeeze the curriculum to allow additional English and maths lessons.  If a child receives booster group support, it is often during time allocated to Art or Music – something that child may actually enjoy.  Where is the joy?  Where is the creativity?  Where is the life-enriching experience?  Many teachers are non-specialist and fear music.  Why when there are great resources such as Charanga that basically fun the lesson for you.

As a music coordinator, I lost count of the number of times people said “It’s alright for you, you can play a musical instrument!”  I wasn’t born able to, but I had the opportunity and seized it.  I taught myself to play guitar well enough to manage most school requirements.  My stock answer is that I am not a Roman Catholic, but I am expected to teach Catholic RE in school.

Does your school have a musician or do you use backing tracks for assemblies and plays?  Children are not exposed to hearing live music and so don’t realise the accessibility of it.  Without this, and our sharing musical experiences, then children receive a very narrow view of music.  My classes have been treated to such an eclectic mix, from Grieg to Gun’s and Roses, Rap to Reggae, Sex Pistols to Sextet…and what’s more, many of them loved it.

So please, if you are in a school that does not rate music, stand up for it.  Encourage and support the staff that do provide opportunities for the children.  Allow children to perform.  We have a rich musical tradition but let’s not make it History.  After all…”Thank you for the Music!”

Take Yo' Praise" by Camille Yarbrough
Thank you for the Music – written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus 1977

Dave Burton is a Primary School Teacher in North Tyneside.





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